Orioles farmhand Ronnie Welty homers twice, drives in eight runs in one game for Double-A Bowie

Eduardo A. EncinaThe Baltimore Sun

Double-A Bowie right fielder Ronnie Welty had a night to remember Thursday night, hitting two home runs and driving in a career-high eight runs in the Baysox's 17-2 trouncing of the Harrisburg Senators at Prince George's Stadium.

The 24-year-old Welty, who was the Orioles' 20th-round selection in 2008, opened his night with a solo homer in the third inning, then hit a three-run triple in the fifth, followed by a three-run homer in the sixth. He finished his night with a sacrifice fly in the seventh. His eight RBIs came from the No. 8 spot in the Baysox lineup.

The 6-foot-3, 204-pound Welty has spent time at four different levels this season, hitting a combined .348/.387/.674 with 10 homers and 47 RBIs. In 28 games with Bowie, he's hitting .296/.306/.556 with five homers and 22 RBIs.

Welty's previous career high was five RBIs in a single game, which he accomplished on April 20 playing for high Class-A Frederick -- that week he was named Carolina League Player of the Week. He also previously had a two-homer game twice before, with the last one coming on April 13, 2010.